Lighting fixture



Dec. 30, 1930. 1.. SCHEPMOES 1 ,786,962-

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Feb. 15, 1929 Patented Dec. 38, 1939 LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES, or new HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNQR To THE ssrnrx CAR HEATING & LIGHTING eoivrrAuY, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY LIGHTING FIXTURE Application filed February 15, 1929. Serial No. 340,133.

This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly to fixtures for lighting railway Vehicles and the like.

An object thereof is to provide a novel and highl desirable form of light distributor for such 'Xtures. Another object is to provide a simple and practical fixture inthe use of which direct and indirect lighting effects may be attained in a desirable and eificient manner. Other objects will be in :part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

. The invention accordingly consists in the features or construction, combination of elements and arrangements of'parts which will be exemplifiedin the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. 1 I

The accompanying drawingsshow one or more illustrative embodiments of my invention, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a section of a car or other vehicle, disclosing I one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an illustrativetransverse elevation of one of the fixtures shown in Fig. 1;

Fi 3 is a longitudinal section thereof D 1 taken on the line 33 ofFig. 2; r I

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section thereof taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2'; and

Fi his a similar horizontal section show ing a modified form oidistributor. 7 Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. a I y r 7 Referring to Fig. lot the drawings, there is shown in diagrammatic form the usual arrangement of seats placed. along thesides of a car with an aisle running the length of the car therebetween. The seats are indicated by the numeral 1, and the aisle by the numeral 2. At 3 are shown. diagrammaticallythe'disposition of a pair of fixtures, shownv more in detail in Figs. 2,3 and 4: lYlOllIltQd or suspended over the aisle within the car in amanner commonly employed in ear lighting, that is, with a fixture arranged above and between apair of seats, andanother fixture arranged above and between a second pair of seats, with so a third pair of seats arranged so astolreceive lighting-effects from said two fixtures. VVithsuch an arrangement, it is desirable that the alternate seats, which are not provided with fixtures, should receive substantially equal illumination with those more advan tageously placed. This end, the form of fixture embodied in this invention and shown in Fig. l is well adapted torattain, for by the combination of light refieetionand light dif fusion resulting from the use of the present form of fixture, the plane of illumination upon each side of the aisle may be made to receive practically uniform illumination at each seat, and this without objectionable glare. It will be readily understood that the occupants oi seats located laterally of any particular fixture will not be afifected by glare from said fixture, unless they look up directly at the fixture. On the other hand, a fixture havingthe source of light unshielded and located some distance ahead of a seat oceu pant, coming within the direct range of vision,.is liable to produce an unpleasant glare. Then, .too, passengers passing along an aisle when directlyifaeing a series of such fixtures may well be disturbed by the glare from some of them. 7 Y

With the present form of fixture disposed as illustrated, this trouble is obviated, for direct lighting effects are only had throughout a limited. zone direotlybeneath and laterally ofeach fixture. From allother points the source of light in the fixture is concealed, while uniform illumination isattairied by reason, of the'efi'cient, and pleasin combination of reflecting and dillusing surfaces inter posed between the source of 'l observer. f v

Now referring to Figs. 2, Band 4 for a more detailed description otthe fixture disclosed therein, a source'of light isshown -c0111- it and the prising a pair of spacedincandescentlamps 4, mountedin any desired manner so as to depend from the ceiling 5 of the vehicle. A.

' surfaces distributelight by diffusion.

' of fixture, diree means employed comprises a plurality of substantially vertically disposed plates, indicated generally by the numeral 9, arranged advantageously to produce the light eiiects here- 1 inbeiore mentionech These plates may be made of translucent material, such as opal or frosted but preferably a moulded'nonfrangible material, as, for example, the case n product galalith and bakelite; or some of' them-maybe translucent and others opaque.

In the specific structure shown, the lamps 4:

p I are arranged side by side longitudinally of thecar. Between them is disposed a plate member 10,-and partially surrounding the sides opposite the plate 10 are plates 11 and .12, which may be made in the form shown in Fig. 4 or in the modified form shown in F 1g.

5, or be made in various other forms suitable for the purpose -for which they are employed.

' Other plates 16, 13, '14 and 15 are arranged in spaced parallel relation to each other and to the plate 10, with their inner edges overlapping the outer edges of the plates 10, 11 and 12, said edges being directed substantially toward the lamps, as is clearly illustrated in Fig.4. I 7

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 4, that light rays from each of the lamps will pass directly through its respective member 11 or 12 and be difl'used thereby to spreadthe light evenly on the ceiling iandin the aisle ot-the car and downwardly toward the seats. The plate 10, whether made opaque or translucent,

serves-mainly as a reflecting member, taking the rays of light from both lamps and bending them back against the adjacent surfaces of the'plates 16, 13, 14 and 15, where they may again be inwardly reflected, or, in case the said last plates are made of translucent material, bedifiused'outwardly. But these plates 16, 13, 14 and15 alsoreceive light directly from the lamp units, and probably by indirect reflection from the plate members 11 and 12, so that the said plates serve as reflectors'from both surfaces, and also their two In the modification shown in 5, the plates 16, 13, Hand 15 are brought together. at their outer edges. Inthis case, the plates would transmit light by reflection and diifu sion of light rays received directly from the lamp units upontheir outer surfaces. They would also diffuse light received upon" their inner surfaces by reflectionfrom the plate 10.

7 It will be cl ,then, that'wit H ther form 1 7 lighting would be obtained only throughout l mited zones laterally posed with respect'to each fixture, where, as 7 stated above,-

a certain amount of glare may not be objectionable, and where more intense lighting effects may be of 'adva-ntagtwhere as, the area outside of said zones'will recelte only indirect or semi-direct illum ation, and from "all points outside of said zones the lainp elements themselves will be invisible,

so that under normal conditions no glare can reach the eyes of passengers.

As many possible embodiment may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiments above set-forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

,I claim:

1. In lighting fiXtures,-in combination, a source of light, and light-distributing means associated therewith, said means comprising a plurality of spaced plate-like members arranged about said source in a plurality of relatively staggered overlapping groups. 7

2. In lighting fixtures, in combination, a source of light, and light distributing means associated therewith, said means comprising a plurality of spaced plate-likemernbers arranged aboutsaid source in a plurality of relatively staggered overlapping groups, certain of said members being disposed and adapted to function. principally by reflection and others being disposed and adapted to functionprincipally by diffusion.

3. In lighting fixtures, in combination, a pair of lampunits, and light-distributing means associated therewith, said means comprising a pluralityof spaced plate-likemembers arranged about said lamp units in a plution principallyby reflection and others func tion principally by diffusion.

5. In lighting fixtures, in combination, a pair of plate-like members, a source of light disposed between said plate-like members, and other plate-like members disposed in staggered relation between and overlapping the outside edges of said pair of plate-lilac members. 1

6. In lighting fixtures, in combination, a:

pair of plate-like members. a sourceof light disposed between said plate-like members. and other 'platedike' members disposed in staggered relation to and overlapping the outside edges of said pairsof plate-like members. r V

7. In lighting fixtures, in combination, a pair of spaced lamp units, a plate-like inember' disposed adjacent the relatively inner sides of said units, a pair of plate-like linembers disposed respectively adjacent the relatively far sides of said units, and other plate-like members disposed in staggered relation between and overlapping the outside edges of said first and said second plate-like members.

8. In lighting fixtures, in combination, a lamp unit, and a plurality of independent non-contiguous plate-like members disposedabout the sides of said unit to give direct illumination throughout a limited zone, substantially parallel with a plane passing through an axis of said unit and to prevent direct illumination at all points outside of said zone. v

' 9. In lighting fixtures, in combination, a lamp unit, and a plurality of independent non-contiguous plate-like members disposed about the sides of said unit to give direct illumination throughout a limited zone, substantially parallel with a plane passing through an axis of said unit and to give semidirect illumination at all points outside of said zone.

10. In lighting fixtures, in combination, a pair of spacedlamp units, and light-distributing means associated therewith, said means comprising a plurality of spaced overlapping translucent plates arranged about and between saidunits in a manner to give direct illumination at points within limited zones upon either side of a plane passing through the axes of said units and to prevent direct illumination at all points outside of said zones.

11. The combination with a vehicle having a center aisle and a ceiling, of a pair of spaced lighting units depending from said ceiling,

and light-distributing means associated with said units, said means comprising a plurality of substantially vertical non-transparent plates arranged about said units so as to confine direct illumination from said units to the space immediately therebeneath and to the spaces disposed laterally thereof upon opposite sides of the aisle.

12. The combination with a ceiling of a vehicle having seats arranged uponeither side of a center aisle, of a plurality lighting fixtures suspended from the ceiling at spaced points abovesaid aisle, each of said fixtures comprising a source of light, and lightdis- 'tributing means, saidineans including a plura-lity of overlapping plate-hire members arranged about said'source to give direct il luiniuation to the aisle directly therebeneath and to the seats disposed laterally thereof and substantially uniiorin sennset 11 inination at all other points.

13. In lighting ,iixtures, in combination, a I

source of light comprising a pairof light un ts, and light-distribut ng means comprisi ing plate-like members disposed laterally and exteriorly of said source on two sides thereof,

and other plate-like members disposedreruary, 1929.

- LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES. 

